Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a federal benefits program that makes monthly payments to individuals who are unable to work due to a disability. Depending on whether you have other sources of income that monthly benefit may not be enough to live on. Thankfully, there are other benefits that SSDI beneficiaries may be eligible to receive.
Some social workers specialize in serving individuals with disabilities. Learn how social workers can help in your social security disability case. Our blog and video outline the role of a social worker in your SSDI Application.
One way the SSA evaluates whether your disability prevents you from working is by conducting a thorough examination of your work history. You submit work history information on the Work History Report. Here’s what the SSA is looking for, and how to complete the form to improve the chance your disability application is approved.
A patient’s medical file is filled with labs, X-rays, MRIs, statements of diagnosis, treatment plans, detailed notes and a dozen other documents, all which support your medical condition and prove that you are disabled. So why does an attorney need a medical source statement to support your Social Security Disability (SSD) application? Watch our video to learn more.
The application process for SSD benefits is not easy. It is estimated that less than 40% of all SSD applications are approved. Furthermore, the application process is a lengthy one. For mental health disorders, investigators will likely be even more selective. Therefore, people should consider meeting with an experienced Social Security Disability attorney to prevent unnecessary problems from occurring.
The main difference between social security disability insurance and social security retirement is simple. With Social Security disability insurance, you have to prove that you’re disabled. Social Security retirement, however, is based on age. We typically advise our clients not to work unless they plan to work full-time because you will lose your benefits if you exceed a certain amount of earnings. You can start receiving retirement benefits at 62, but there is a deduction if you start claiming them before 67. To learn more, watch our short videos.
Whether you can receive retirement and SSDI benefits depends on what you mean by “retirement”. For SSDI purposes, retirement means benefits paid through the SSA. Yet Social Security retirement benefits are not always the only benefit people receive when they retire. Pensions or 401(k) plans through an employer also pay benefits at retirement. While many people generically refer to each of these as “retirement” benefits, for purposes of receiving both SSDI and retirement benefits, they are very different.
When you apply for SSDI, the Social Security Administration calculates the amount of your possible monthly disability benefits based on your work history. The SSA may reduce the amount you receive in some cases if you have other sources of income. Specifically, Social Security may lower your disability payments if you receive certain types of pension payments. To learn more watch our short video.
It could take almost two years before your SSD application is approved and you begin receiving benefits. The low initial approval rates combined with the lengthy wait times mean that many people who are unable to work apply for unemployment benefits to bridge the gap. While it is possible to obtain SSD benefits while receiving unemployment, some issues could complicate the process.
Our website includes a searchable database that lets you check the approval and denial rating of every ALJ in the country. Although there is no guarantee that your application will be approved, knowing the ALJ’s approval rating before the hearing can help you (or your disability attorney, if you hire one) better strategize how to present your case.
